CSIRO methane emissions study

As part of its commitment to use the best available
science to reduce human impacts on the environment, the EPA commissioned the
CSIRO to study fugitive methane emissions from major industrial sites and
natural sources of methane across NSW.

About methane

Methane is a gas that exists naturally. It is a component
of the earth's atmosphere at low concentrations. We inhale methane and numerous
other gases when we breathe. Natural sources of methane include wetlands and
native forests.

Methane is also generated by industrial activity, including
emissions from

Assessing methane emissions and volatile organic compounds

The CSIRO

examined
the atmospheric levels of methane at 16 sites across NSW from June 2014 to May 2016,
including coal seam gas, landfill, agricultural, coal mining and wastewater
treatment sites; and a forest and wetland

quantified
background atmospheric methane levels across NSW by conducting more than
25,000 kilometres of mobile surveys using a vehicle mounted instrument

assessed
the ambient concentrations of over 120 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to analyse whether specific
VOCs can be attributed to a particular source, and to understand source-related
impacts on air quality